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In 1992 Microprose released Rex Nebular & the Cosmic Gender Bender, an adventure game set on a world where a "gender war" had killed off all the men. The remaining women separated themselves from the rest of the galaxy, hid their planet, and perpetuated their species thanks to the Gender Bender, a device that instantly but non-permanently transformed women into men and vice versa. What does the game do with that setup and the questions it raises? It makes jokes about how men leave the toilet seat up and women don't know what torque wrenches are.We've come a long way since then. In 2007's Mass Effect the Asari are a monogender alien species coded as women, and they don't hide themselves away refusing to learn how wrenches work. On the surface they seem like stereotypical blue space babes, but they're also a matriarchal society that plays a central role in the politics of the series. One of the Asari, Liara T'Soni, is a potential love interest for the player-character regardless of … [Read more...] about Sexuality and gender in science fiction games

Video games aren’t as old as their virtual siblings in television or film. However, in the four decades since its inception, the medium has improved in popularity and commercial success. Each new generation of technological marvels has trounced the last. Interactive storytelling has undoubtedly changed through video games, too. The human ability to depict a feeling and attempting to bridge the gap between two minds further has been enhanced. The following is a list of celebrated games that will reach historic milestones in July 2018. They range between 10 and 40 years old. Each title has had a profound impact on the industry in some way. It may be laying the groundwork for the medium to thrive in posterity. Similarly, it may be through delivery of a breathtaking experience that fans the world over remember to this day. Game Anniversaries in July 2018 – Persona 4 (10th Anniversary) Persona 4 initially launched in Japan on July 10, 2008 with its Shin Megami Tensei … [Read more...] about Major Game Anniversaries in July 2018

So, what did we learn from Trump’s hour long video game summit? It began with a minute and a half video reel showing particularly violent scenes from various video games, which appeared to set the tone for an ambush that should’ve been obvious from a mile distant. And beyond that? It’s difficult to argue that anything of value was accomplished. Here’s the White House’s press release on the meeting: "Today, President Trump and senior members of the Administration met with leaders in the video game industry and experts on violence to discuss violent video game exposure and its impact on our children. To date, the Administration has led many discussions about how to prevent violent behavior in our schools, with a focus on stopping those intent on committing mass murder. During today’s meeting, the group spoke with the President about the effect that violent video games have on our youth, especially young males.The President acknowledged some … [Read more...] about Opinion: Trump’s video game ‘summit’ reminds us who the enemy is

InnerSpace was successfully funded on Kickstarter all the way back in 2014, and it’s come a long way since then. It's an exploration game where you zip about topsy-turvy worlds discovering relics of an ancient civilization, and the trailer shows a delicate, bird-like craft traveling past coral superstructures, stone ruins, and alien architecture. That ship, called the Cartographer, is also shown opening portals and crashing through glass, and becoming a submarine when it hits water. It's all a bit perplexing, but looks lovely nonetheless. InnerSpace is the first commercial release from indie studio PolyKnight Games. We spoke with artist Steve Zapata, designer Eric Grossman, and director Tyler Tomaseski about how they helped players learn to fly, and what their plans after release are. PC Gamer: How did PolyKnight Games come about and how did that lead into development of InnerSpace? Tyler Tomaseski: We started out at college, at University of Texas, Dallas. We originally … [Read more...] about How InnerSpace’s creators made their disorienting flying game playable

Prior to embarking on a glamorous, high-rolling career in videogame journalism, I was a fully-qualified plumber. At the time of transition my parents questioned my career change, suggesting I consider trivial things such as "money", "security", and the value of a "real job". This against an occupation that was at times, quite literally, shit. In the face of such concerns, I explained to my folks what virtual toilets can teach us about the art of game design, or how the toilets of Dishonored illustrate the granular decision making developers face behind the scenes when crafting credible worlds. I sought to make them understand them how my past and present work often overlaps—that my learned trade plays an important role within the digital worlds they can't quite grasp. I failed. So I now seek to entertain you with the best of videogame toilet takedowns. Having spent so much time in a variety of bathrooms over the years—for work purposes, you dirty … [Read more...] about An ex-plumber’s guide to bathroom murder